Press wheel assembly

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a press wheel means to be mounted upon a cultivating implement utilized in a seed planting process. More particularly, this invention is an improved press wheel assembly having cooperating half wheel assemblies loosely mounted upon a main support shaft and constructed so as to create a constant wobbling or vibrating effect to maintain the same free and clear of mud and the like.

United States Patent [191 Hornung [451 Aug. 14, 1973 PRESS WHEELASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Michael C. Homung, Spearville,

Kans. 67876 [22] Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 236,208

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 861,635,Sept. 29, 1969,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 172/531, 172/538 [51] int. Cl A0lb 5/00 [58] Field ofSearch 172/538, 531, 560, 172/575, 551, 559, 578, 174, 184, 185, 175; 111/88, 85

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,357,760 9/1944 Peacock111/85 530,962 12/1894 Packham 172/538 Primary Examiner-Robert E.Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-R. T. Rader Attorney-John H. Widdowson 5 7ABSTRACT This invention relates to a press wheel means to be mountedupon a cultivating implement utilized in a seed planting process. Moreparticularly, this invention is an improved press wheel assembly havingcooperating half wheel assemblies loosely mounted upon a main supportshaft and constructed so as to create a constant wobbling or vibratingeffect to maintain the same free and clear of mud and the like.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,237

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 9. r: TOR.

E MICHAEL c. HORNUNG ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1913 3,752,237

2 Sheets-Sheet 3 MICHAEL c. H'ORNUNG Zwf W PRESS WHEEL ASSEMBLY This isa continuation of application Ser. No. 861,635, filed Sept. 29, 1969,now abandoned.

Numerous types of farm implements are known to the prior art operable toprovide a harrowing function for dropping seeds into certain rows andthen covering the same by a wheel assembly. However, it is noted thatthe prior art devices are substantially complicated in structuretherefore expensive to manufacture and not operable in a self-cleaningmanner.

In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a press wheel means isprovided for attachment to a cultivating implement so as to becooperatively positioned relative to a seed feed assembly and a harrowassembly for proper farming operations. More particularly, the presswheel means includes a plurality of press wheel assemblies mounted inspaced relationships upon a main support shaft and held thereon forconfined movement between cooperating retainer members. Each press wheelassembly includes a pair of half wheel assemblies mounted upon thesupport shaft in facing relationship so as to form a disc likestructure. Each half wheel assembly includes a main body portion ofplate shape secured centrally to one end ofa main support hub as bywelding and having a large washer or plate member thereagainst. The mainbody is of an irregular shape having a flat central portion integralwith outwardly inclined intermediate sections and end sections. Thesupport hub is of a cylindrical shape of an inner diameter greater thanthe support shaft for proper operationthereof. The reinforcing platemember is secured to the inner side of the main body against the sameand-also to the support hub. The outer end of each support hub isadapted to contact the adjacent retainer member whereas the innerportion thereof is of a length slightly greater than the combined heightof the intermediate section and outer end section for proper operationthereof. The proper relationship of the outer end sections of the mainbody; the length of the inner portion of the support hubs; thepositioning of the retainer members; and the relative clearance betweenthe support shaft and the support hubs are all co- FIG. 1 is afragmentary perspective view of a cultivating implement having the presswheel means of this invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the cultivatingimplement showing the improved press wheel means of this invention in anoperating condition;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an improved press assembly of thisinvention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a press wheel assembly of thisinvention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view illustrating the workingcondition of the plurality of the press wheel assemblies of thisinvention;

' FIG. 7 is a view of the cultivator implement of this invention raisedto the non-usage condition showing the related and important to achievethe new and novel operation of this invention.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved press wheel meansovercoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art structures.

Still, one further object of this invention is to provide a press wheelmeans whereupon a plurality of press wheel assemblies are mounted in apre-determined spaced relationship upon a main support shaft operable topress the seeds within the ground in a planting operation through acultivating implement and having new and novel features for making thesame self-cleaning.

Still, one further object of this invention is to provide an improvedpress wheel assembly having cooperating half wheel assemblies rotatablymounted upon the main support shaft and engagable with the soil to causea fluttering action to assure the self-cleaning properties.

One further object of this invention is to provide an improved presswheel means which is simple to use, economical to manufacture,substantially maintenance free, and providing self-cleaning properties.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art, from the followingdiscussion. taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

movement of the press wheel assemblies to their normal condition; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the mounting ofthe improved press wheel means of this invention.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specificembodiments of the new improved press wheel means of this invention,such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the samereference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/orstructure. It is to be understood that such discussion and descriptionis not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, aperspective view of a cultivator implement 10 is shown as having a presswheel means indicated generally at 12 mounted thereon. Moreparticularly, the cultivator implement 10 is provided with a seed orchemical storage tank 14 being a portion of a feed assembly 16; aplurality of harrow tooth assemblies 18 in order to prepare the soil fordropping the seed members or chemical within; and the press wheel means12 mounted therebehind upon a main elongated support shaft 21. It isseen that the feed assembly 16 includes a drive assembly 23 having aplurality of interconnected chain members 24 and sprocket members 26which are operable through a ground contacting wheel (not shown) torotate the support shaft 21. The rotating support shaft 21 operates toprovide the desired feed of material through the feed assembly 16relative to the ground speed of the entire cultivator implement 10. Moreparticularly, the press wheel means 12 includes a plurality ofindividually spaced press wheel assemblies 28 rotatably mounted aboutthe support shaft 21 positioned in a pre-determined relationship to therespective harrow tooth assemblies 18 to achieve the function of thisinvention. In one embodiment, three adjacent ones of the press wheelassemblies 28 may be positioned, so that the outer ones cooperate with arespective harrow tooth assembly 18 and the central press wheel assembly28 would then act as a deflection shield to prevent the throwing ofexcessive soil over the planted seed if such is deemed necessary.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, it is seen that the support shaft 21 ismounted through bearing members 32 connected to irregular shaped supportarms 34 which, in turn, are secured to a main frame 35. The support arms34 includes a base section 37 secured to the mainframe 35 and anintegral inclined leg section 39 with its outer end connected to thesupport shaft 21. The leg section 39 provides the desired flexibilityand positioning relative the harrow tooth assemblies 18. An additionalrigid plate 41 is mounted against the upper surface of the base section37 and the leg section 39 to provide the desired working depth andresiliency to the press wheel means 12.

Each press wheel assembly 28 is constructed of a pair of half wheelassemblies 43 and 44 mounted about the support shaft 21 and held in apredetermined relationship thereon by retainer members 42 secured to thesupport shaft 21 through set screws or the like. As the half wheelassemblies 43 and 44 are substantially identical, only one need bedescribed in detail.

The half wheel assembly 43 includes a main body 46 secured to a centralsupport hub 48 and having a reinforcing plate or washer 49 securedthereagainst. More particularly, the main body 46 includes a centralsection 51 with an integral outwardly extended intermediate section 53and an outer end section 55. It is noted that the intermediate section53 extends outwardly relative to the base or central section 51 at anangle approximately 35" whereupon the outer end section 55 extends at asimilar angle of approximately 45 for reasons to become obvious. Themain body 46 is provided with a central hole 58 to receive the supporthub 48 therethrough and welded thereagainst about its periphery. Thereinforcing washer 49 also has a central hole 61 placed about thesupport hub 48 and against the inner surface of the main body 46 andwelded thereto. The reinforcing washer 49 is provided to give additionaloverall rigidity to the main body 46.

The support hub 48 is of a cylindrical shape having a central opening 63to receive the support shaft 21 therewithin. The support hub 48 isprovided on its inner-most side with a pre-determined length indicatedat A in FIG. relative to the height of the main body 46 indicated at B.In fact, the operational characteristics of this invention is dependentupon certain dimensional and size relationships of the various elementssuch as (l) the clearance between the support shaft 21 and therespective support hubs 48; (2) the clearance provided between thesupport hubs 48 and the retainer members 42; and (3) the aforementioneddifference in overall height between the inner section of the supporthub 48 and the main body 46.

In the use and operation of the press wheel means 12 of this invention,it is seen that a plurality of the improved press wheel assemblies 28are rotatably mounted in a spaced relationship on the main support shaft21 in a pre-determined position behind respective ones of the harrowtooth assemblies 18. It is seen that the press wheel assemblies 28thereupon act to depress the seeds as required and to cover up the seedswhich are being planted by the cultivator implement 10. As best shown inFIG. 5, it is obvious that on movement of the cultivator implement overthe ground after lowering the harrow assemblies 18 and the press means12, it is obvious that the contact with the soil will cause rotation ofthe press wheel assemblies 28. Also due to the outer contour of the mainbodies 46 of the half wheel assemblies 43, 44, it is obvious that thesame forces the outer tips thereof inwardly to the position shown inFIGS. 3 and 5. However, due to the clearance indicated at C' between thesupport hub 48 and the outerdiameter of the support shaft 21, it isobvious that this in combination with the length A of the support hub 48being greater than the length B of the respective half wheel assemblies43, 44, causes mating of the lower edges and splitting of the upperedges. It is obvious that this amount of maximum split at the top indicated at D is mainly controlled through the clearance between thesupport shaft 21 and the support hub 48 plus the respective lengths A ofthe support hub 48. However, there must be a clearance between theretainer members 42 and the support hubs 48 indicated at E equal to orgreater than C" for proper operation.

It is seen that these spaced relationships causes a continuous wobblingmovement of the half wheel assemblies 43, 44, throughout the rotation onthe support shaft 21 so as to cause the same to be constantly vibratingand self-cleaning which is extremely desirable.

It is noted that the improved press wheel assemblies of this inventionmay be mounted upon a given support shaft at any desired interval toprovide the numerous desirable features of this invention. The improvedpress wheel means of this invention is economical to manufacture, simpleto use, rigid in construction, and having the desirable characteristicsof being self-cleaning.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferredspecific embodimants thereof, it will be understood that thisdescription is intended to illustrate one embodiment of this invention,which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a cultivating implement having a plurality ofspaced harrow tooth assemblies, a

press wheel means, comprising:

a. a press wheel assembly rotatably mounted on a straight support shaftpositioned adjacent and rearwardly of a harrow tooth assembly,

b. said press wheel assembly having a pair of cooperating half wheelassemblies held in a predetermined position on said support shaft byretainer members, said half wheel assemblies cooperating to form a splitdisc shape each freely rotatable on contact with the ground,

c. each of said half wheel assemblies having a main body secured to asupport hub, the width of said main body and a portion of said supporthub extended in the same axial direction, and said portion of saidsupport hub of a length greater than said width of said main body toprovide a space between adjacent outer peripheral edges of said halfwheels when said hubs are in full abutment, and said support hubsloosely mounted on said support shaft in a manner whereby said halfwheel assemblies can be pivoted on said support shaft to contact eachother in an outer portion with opposite outer portions spaced apartsubstantially and when in such contact first portions of said hubssubstantially out of contact with said support shaft and second portionsof said hubs in contact with said support shaft, and I said half wheelassemblies upon rotation in contact with the ground of a furrow exertingpressure on the outside of said wheel assemblies, the lower portionsthereof being in contact and said wheel assemblies having portions beingapart and appreciably out of contact when same are out of the furrow toresult in a flexing action and thereby break loose moist soil which hasclung to said half wheels.

6 2. A press wheel means as described in claim 1, inwherein: eluding: a.said main body having a central section integral a. a flexible armmember connected to said implewith outwardly extended intermediatesection and ment and one end connected to bearing members outer endsection, and having said support shaft mounted therein, said 5 b. saidouter end sections extended 45 to said central arm member having arearwardly, downwardly insections, and cooperating ones of said endsections clined leg section to maintain a spring pressure on adjacentones of said half wheel assemblies form against said press wheelassembly for proper action an angle of 90 therebetween and are engagablewhen contacting the soil. with the soil at approximately 45.

3. A press wheel means as described in claim 1, 10

1. In combination with a cultivating implement having a plurality ofspaced harrow tooth assemblies, a press wheel means, comprising: a. apress wheel assembly rotatably mounted on a straight support shaftpositioned adjacent and rearwardly of a harrow tooth assembly, b. saidpress wheel assembly having a pair of cooperating half wheel assembliesheld in a pre-determined position on said support shaft by retainermembers, said half wheel assemblies cooperating to form a split discshape each freely rotatable on contact with the ground, c. each of saidhalf wheel assemblies having a main body secured to a support hub, thewidth of said main body and a portion of said support hub extended inthe same axial direction, and said portion of said support hub of alength greater than said width of said main body to provide a spacebetween adjacent outer peripheral edges of said half wheels when saidhubs are in full abutment, and said support hubs loosely mounted on saidsupport shaft in a manner whereby said half wheel assemblies can bepivoted on said support shaft to contact each other in an outer portionwith opposite outer portions spaced apart substantially and when in suchcontact first portions of said hubs substantially out of contact withsaid support shaft and second portions of said hubs in contact with saidsupport shaft, and d. said half wheel assemblies upon rotation incontact with the ground of a furrow exerting pressure on the outside ofsaid wheel assemblies, the lower portions thereof being in contact andsaid wheel assemblies having portions being apart and appreciably out ofcontact when same are out of the furrow to result in a flexing actionand thereby break loose moist soil which has clung to said half wheels.2. A press wheel means as described in claim 1, including: a. a flexiblearm member connected to said implement and one end connected to bearingmembers having said support shaft mounted therein, said arm memberhaving a rearwardly, downwardly inclined leg section to maintain aspring pressure against said press wheel assembly for proper action whencontacting the soil.
 3. A press wheel means as described in claim 1,wherein: a. said main body having a central section integral withoutwardly extended intermediate section and outer end section, and b.said outer end sections extended 45* to said central sections, andcooperating ones of said end sections on adjacent ones of said halfwheel assemblies form an angle of 90* therebetween and are engagablewith the soil at approximately 45*.